When multiple hurricanes struck Louisiana in 2014, Louisville native and insurance adjuster Todd Giles was deployed to the area to work on flood claims. It was here, amidst the storm damage, that Giles faced a personal storm of his own when he received a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the left tonsil and multiple lymph nodes.
“I began treatment in December and finished 35 radiations to the head and neck alongside 7 chemotherapy treatments,” says Giles. Although his recovery was slow and difficult, by early 2016 his scans showed no signs of cancer.
But later that year, Giles slowly developed a pain in his spine, and a PET scan showed his SCC had returned and spread throughout his body. He continued treatment in Louisiana until, in 2019, his health was stable enough to allow for his family to move back to Louisville and continue his treatment at the UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center (BCC).
“Being at the UofL has made me feel more at rest knowing that there a large group of doctors who are specialists in their field,” says Giles. “Dr. Redman has made me feel like I’m an important part of the group. Everything is discussed and we spend time reviewing what we’ve done and where we are heading.” His treatment plan has included immunotherapy, radiation, and brain surgery to remove a cancerous tumor that developed in 2023. “I have never walked into UofL Health carrying stress on my shoulders regarding my care, financial hardship, understanding, or compassion for my wife and I during my fight,” says Giles, who describes the BCC nurses as “so awesome.”
As one of the runway models at the 2024 Kim Heath Hats for Hope Fashion Show, Giles calls the show “a needed spark in [his] life.” Life can often feel isolating when fighting cancer, but “this event focused on [patients] and allowed me to show off in the center stage instead of sitting on the sidelines. It was a life-changing celebration.”
“I will never forget the applause and smiles I saw staring at me as I heard my story narrated in the background. Crying and smiling were the only two things I could do while showing my outfit. I truly felt like I was number one!”
Through his decade-long battle against cancer, Giles has experienced lows due to changes in his physical, emotional, and financial health, but sees his experiences at the BCC only in a positive light. “The feelings I have of standing in the Brown Cancer Center are of everyone’s arms wrapped around me. I have never felt alone at UofL Health. The Brown Cancer Center has helped me overcome [my] fear and live a better life.”
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